Calgary man facing domestic murder charge was under court order to stay away from ex-spouse

A Calgary man under court order to stay away from his former spouse has been charged with murdering her, eight months after he was charged with domestic violence offences, including assault, choking and forcible confinement. 

Mohamad Anass Mahmou Al-Sahli, 47, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Anna Brazhko, 38.

Police say they responded to a 911 call for assistance to a home in the Belmont neighbourhood in Calgary's deep southwest just before 2 a.m.

Investigators allege Al-Sahli broke into Brazhko's home that she shared with her current partner in the early morning hours on Monday and "fatally assaulted her."

Domestic assault charge 

When officers and paramedics arrived, Brazhko was dead. 

One man was taken into custody at the scene. Police called the incident "targeted." 

In July, Al-Sahli was charged with a number of domestic violence offences related to allegations he attacked Brazhko.

Those offences included assault causing bodily harm, choking, unlawful confinement, mischief to property for damaging her cellphone and obstructing a police officer.

In September, Al-Sahli, instead of booking a trial, he entered into an 18-month peace bond, as a way to manage his risk to offend, records show.

Ordered to stay away from victim

A peace bond is an acknowledgement there are reasonable grounds to fear a person may commit an offence.

Court records also show Al-Sahli, who lives in the northeast community of Saddleridge, was under conditions including that he have no contact or communication with Brazhko. 

He was required to stay away from her home and was also ordered to participate in programming or counselling for domestic violence and anger management. 

Al-Sahli appeared before a justice of the peace late Monday night and made another appearance via closed-circuit TV in domestic violence court on Tuesday morning with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter. 

He will be back in court later this month.